Daily Readings - Mon Jul 10 2023
Genesis
10Jacob left Beersheba and set out for Haran.11When he reached a certain place, he stopped for the night because the sun had set. Taking one of the stones there, he put it under his head and lay down to sleep.12He had a dream in which he saw a stairway resting on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.13There above it stood the LORD, and he said: "I am the LORD, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying.14Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring.15I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you."16When Jacob awoke from his sleep, he thought, "Surely the LORD is in this place, and I was not aware of it."17He was afraid and said, "How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God; this is the gate of heaven."18Early the next morning Jacob took the stone he had placed under his head and set it up as a pillar and poured oil on top of it.19He called that place Bethel, though the city used to be called Luz.20Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear21so that I return safely to my father's house, then the LORD will be my God22and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God's house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth."
Matthew
18While he was saying this, a ruler came and knelt before him and said, "My daughter has just died. But come and put your hand on her, and she will live."19Jesus got up and went with him, and so did his disciples.20Just then a woman who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak.21She said to herself, "If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed."22Jesus turned and saw her. "Take heart, daughter," he said, "your faith has healed you." And the woman was healed from that moment.23When Jesus entered the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd,24he said, "Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep." But they laughed at him.25After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up.26News of this spread through all that region.
Sermon
In today's readings, we encounter two profound narratives that invite us to reflect on faith and trust in God. The first reading from Genesis describes Jacob's visionary dream, where he sees a ladder connecting heaven and earth, with angels ascending and descending. This vision occurs at a pivotal moment in Jacob's journey, as he flees from his brother Esau. God appears to Jacob, reaffirming the covenant made with Abraham and Isaac, promising the land to his descendants and blessings to all nations through him. Jacob, in awe, recognizes the sacredness of the place, naming it Bethel and making a vow to God.
In the Gospel, we find two instances of faith leading to healing. A ruler, desperate for his deceased daughter's life, seeks Jesus. On the way, a woman suffering from a twelve-year hemorrhage touches Jesus' cloak, demonstrating unwavering faith, and is healed. Jesus commends her faith, emphasizing its role in her healing. At the ruler's house, despite mockery, Jesus restores the girl to life, illustrating His divine power and the transformative impact of faith.
These readings remind us of the importance of trusting God amidst life's challenges. Like Jacob, we may face uncertain journeys, but God's promises are ever-present. The woman's faith and the ruler's plea teach us to approach God with trust, recognizing His presence in our lives. May we, like Jacob, acknowledge sacred moments and, like the woman and the ruler, place our faith in God, knowing His blessings and healing are always within reach.